A lot of people around our neighbourhood think that I am very spoiled. Most of them do not realize that it is not an easy life being a dog, particularly if you take your responsibilities as a companion animal as seriously as I do. Ours is an area where most of us live on small acerages. It is not uncommon for me to encounter dogs running free on the beach or across the fields without benefit of any sort of human companionship. You would never see me neglecting my duty like that.

It is only the undisciplined dog who lets his human companions loll about with their feet up while he is out running about on his own. A dog like this should be warned that if he lets his people develop this kind of sedentary life style, he may eventually find himself replaced by a cat. For those of us with older parents it is especially important that we get them accustomed to regular walks. The medical journals are full of studies that show the benefits of daily exercise in increasing life expectancy among humans.

My mother has always liked to walk although she says that until she got me she was afraid to walk in the dark and so that restricted her in the winter months when it gets dark here by four or five in the afternoon. My dad would never go for walks with her because he said she always wanted to go on "safaris". Well in the winter especially, if you leave my dad to his own devices he can become a real couch potato. We noticed that he was starting to put on weight. I cannot remember who it was that originally suggested it but it was decided among us that we would let him take me for my morning walk. We started going a matter of a few blocks but I finally got him accustomed to a couple of routes that are about a mile to a mile and a half long.

My mum continued to take me for a longer walk after dinner each night. It dawned on me that since I was having a walk after breakfast and after dinner, it would only make sense to have one after lunch too so I started lobbying. My mum is usually at work during the day so my dad was the logical choice as a companion on that walk.

It keeps me quite busy but we have now established this as a regular routine. If either of them tries to slack off, I put on the pressure and dog their steps and hound them until I get them on the end of a leash. When we have company for dinner, they are usually persuaded to join us too.

I take pride in contributing to the fitness of my family and friends in this way. I also find that my constant demands for walks promotes a sense of family unity. There are many people on our walking routes who have never seen my parents together but they know that they are a couple because of their shared bond to me. It is rather a big responsibility being the center of the universe but I recommend it as a most rewarding role for those who can take the pressure.